Input system

ABSTRACT

An input system includes a first gesture detection unit and a second gesture detection unit. The first gesture detection unit includes a first light emitting device for emitting a first light beam, a first light sensing device for receiving the first light beam reflected by a first motion trajectory generated by a user and outputting a first image signal, and a first processing unit for processing the first image signal and outputting a first command signal. The second gesture detection unit includes a second light emitting device for emitting a second light beam, a second light sensing device for receiving the second light beam reflected by a second motion trajectory generated by the user and outputting a second image signal, and a second processing unit for processing the second image signal and outputting a second command signal.

CROSS REFERENCE

The present invention is a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No.16/449,366 filed on Jun. 22, 2019, which is a continuation applicationof U.S. Ser. No. 15/168,825 filed on May 31, 2016, which is acontinuation application of U.S. Ser. No. 13/907,182 filed on May 31,2013, which claims priority to TW 101121988, filed on Jun. 20, 2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of Invention

The present invention relates to an input system; particularly, itrelates to such input system which is capable of detecting differentgestures so as to generate a combination command.

Description of Related Art

Currently, for a user to select a function such as a phone number or asoftware application program on a smart phone, a handheld device or adisplay device, the user usually either directly touches the target icondisplayed on the touch screen or selects it with an input device.

For example, keyboards, mice or touch panels are typical tools for suchselections in desktop PCs or tablet PCs. Alternatively, a user mayperform selections in a non-contact manner wherein the device sensesgestures of upward, downward, leftward and rightward movements of auser's hand and movement of the user's hand approaching the devicescreen for selecting a function and confirmation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide an input systemwhich is capable of detecting different gestures so as to generate acombination command.

Other objectives and advantages of the present invention can beunderstood from the disclosure of the specification.

To achieve one or more of the above and other objectives, from oneperspective, the present invention provides an input system comprising afirst gesture detection unit and a second gesture detection unit. Thefirst gesture detection unit has a first sensible range and includes afirst light emitting device, a first light sensing device and a firstprocessing unit. The first light emitting device is for emitting a firstlight beam. The first light sensing device is for receiving the firstlight beam which is reflected by a first motion trajectory generated bya user and outputting a first image signal accordingly. The firstprocessing unit is for processing the first image signal and outputtinga first command signal accordingly. The second gesture detection unithas a second sensible range and includes a second light emitting device,a second light sensing device and a second processing unit. The secondlight emitting device is for emitting a second light beam. The secondlight sensing device is for receiving the second light beam which isreflected by a second motion trajectory generated by the user andoutputting a second image signal accordingly. The second processing unitis for processing the second image signal and outputting a secondcommand signal accordingly.

In one embodiment, the first command signal includes a gesture commandsignal or a cursor movement command signal. In one embodiment, thegesture command signal includes an upward command signal, a downwardcommand signal, a leftward command signal, a rightward command signal, aclockwise command signal, a counterclockwise command signal, a pushforward command signal, a pull backward command signal, or a waving-handcommand signal. In one embodiment, the cursor movement command signalincludes a cursor motion signal or an object motion signal.

In one embodiment, the second command signal includes a gesture commandsignal or a cursor movement command signal. In one embodiment, thegesture command signal includes an upward command signal, a downwardcommand signal, a leftward command signal, a rightward command signal, aclockwise command signal, a counterclockwise command signal, a pushforward command signal, a pull backward command signal, or a waving-handcommand signal. In one embodiment, the cursor movement command signalincludes a cursor motion signal or an object motion signal.

In one embodiment, the input system is for transmitting the firstcommand signal and the second command signal to an electronic device inserial or parallel manner so that the electronic device generates acorresponding action. In one embodiment, the action includes a copy,paste, zoom-in, zoom-out or object dragging action.

In one embodiment, the first light beam and the second light beam areinvisible light beams.

In one embodiment, the first light beam and the second light beam havethe same wavelength range. In one embodiment, the first sensible rangeand the second sensible range do not overlap with each other.

In one embodiment, the first light beam and the second light beam havedifferent wavelength ranges. In one embodiment, the first sensible rangeand the second sensible range partially overlap with each other.

From another perspective, the present invention provides an input systemcomprising a light emitting device, a first gesture detection unit and asecond gesture detection unit. The light emitting device is for emittinga light beam. The first gesture detection unit has a first sensiblerange and includes a first light sensing device and a first processingunit. The first light sensing device is for receiving the light beamwhich is reflected by a first motion trajectory generated by a user andoutputting a first image signal accordingly. The first processing unitis for processing the first image signal and outputting a first commandsignal accordingly. The second gesture detection unit has a secondsensible range and includes a second light sensing device and a secondprocessing unit. The second light sensing device is for receiving thelight beam which is reflected by a second motion trajectory generated bythe user and outputting a second image signal accordingly. The secondprocessing unit is for processing the second image signal and outputtinga second command signal accordingly.

In light of the above, the input system of the present invention atleast has the following advantages: first, the input system can detectdifferent gestures with the first gesture detection unit and the secondgesture detection unit so as to generate a combination command.Secondly, both the first gesture detection unit and the second gesturedetection unit can operate in the gesture mode and the cursor motionmode, so there are more varieties of combination commands that may begenerated, and therefore the input system of the present invention issuperior to and can replace the conventional input system (e.g., themouse).

The objectives, technical details, features, and effects of the presentinvention will be better understood with regard to the detaileddescription of the embodiments below, with reference to the attacheddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1C are schematic diagrams showing actions by an input system toinput commands to an electronic device according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIGS. 2A-2B illustrate that the image displayed on the screen is variedin response to a command inputted by the input system to the electronicdevice as shown in FIGS. 1A-1C.

FIGS. 3A-3C are schematic diagrams showing actions by an input system toinput commands to an electronic device according to another embodimentof the present invention.

FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate that the image displayed on the screen is variedin response to a command inputted by the input system to the electronicdevice as shown in FIGS. 3A-3C.

FIG. 5 illustrates an input system according to yet another embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates an input system according to still another embodimentof the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The above and other technical details, features and effects of thepresent invention will be will be better understood with regard to thedetailed description of the embodiments below, with reference to thedrawings. In the description, the words relate to directions such as“upward”, “downward”, “leftward”, “rightward”, “forward”, “backward”,etc. are used to illustrate relative orientations in the drawings andshould not be considered as limiting in any way.

FIGS. 1A-1C are schematic diagrams showing actions by an input system toinput commands to an electronic device according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. The input system 100 of this embodiment comprises afirst gesture detection unit 110 and a second gesture detection unit120. The first gesture detection unit 110 and the second gesturedetection unit 120 detects the user's different gestures to control thecorresponding operation of the electronic device 101.

For instance, when the first gesture detection unit 110 detects agesture indicative of outputting a command of the “control” key(abbreviated as “Ctrl”) and the second gesture detection unit 120detects a gesture indicative of outputting a command of plus sign(denoted as “+”) or minus sign (denoted as “−”), the two gestures areintegrated to become a combination command indicative of controlling azoom-in operation or a zoom-out operation for the screen of theelectronic device 101. Or for another example, when the first gesturedetection unit 110 detects a gesture indicative of outputting a commandof “object selection” corresponding to left-clicking the mouse and thesecond gesture detection unit 120 detects a gesture indicative of movingthe trajectory of an object, the two gestures are integrated to become acombination command indicative of moving the object. Or for a furtherexample, the first gesture detection unit 110 and the second gesturedetection unit 120 can be used to respectively detect the gestures ofdifferent users who are playing a game on the electronic device 101(e.g., the double player mode). The details for how the first gesturedetection unit 110 and the second gesture detection unit 120 detect theuser's different gestures so as to control the corresponding operationsof the electronic device 101 are explained below.

Please refer to FIG. 1A. The first gesture detection unit 110 has afirst sensible range 110 a and includes a first light emitting device112, a first light sensing device 114 and a first processing unit 116.The first light emitting device 112 is for emitting a first light beamL1. The first light beam L1 is for example but not limited to infraredlight, which is invisible light. The first light sensing device 114 isfor receiving the first light beam L1 when it is reflected by a firstmotion trajectory 132 generated by the user and outputting a first imagesignal S114 accordingly. The first processing unit 116 is for processingthe first image signal S114 and outputting a first command signal S116accordingly.

More specifically, in response to a different first motion trajectory132 and depending on the operation mode where the input system. 100 isoperated (e.g., the gesture mode or the cursor mode), the first commandsignal S116 for example can be a gesture command signal S1162 or acursor movement command signal (not shown), etc. While the input system100 is operated under the gesture mode, the gesture command signal S1162for example is an upward command signal, a downward command signal, aleftward command signal, a rightward command signal, a clockwise commandsignal, a counterclockwise command signal, a push forward commandsignal, a pull backward command signal, or a waving-hand command signal,etc. While the input system 100 is operated under the cursor mode, thecursor movement command signal includes a cursor motion signal or anobject motion signal. In the example shown in FIG. 1A, the first gesturedetection unit 110 detects the gesture under the gesture mode. That is,when detecting a gesture of a pushing forward movement (as shown by thefirst motion trajectory 132 in FIG. 1A), the first gesture detectionunit 110 outputs a corresponding push forward command signal as thegesture command signal S1162. The push forward command signal can berepresenting, for example, the command of the “control” key (“Ctrl”) onthe keyboard.

Next, please refer to FIG. 1B. The second gesture detection unit 120 hasa second sensible range 120 a and includes a second light emittingdevice 122, a second light sensing device 124 and a second processingunit 126. The second light emitting device 122 is for emitting a secondlight beam L2. The second light beam L2 for example is invisible light,and is infrared light having the same wavelength range as the firstlight beam L1 in this embodiment, but is not limited thereto. The secondlight sensing device 124 is for receiving the second light beam L2 whichis reflected by a second motion trajectory 134 generated by the user andoutputting a second image signal S124 accordingly. The second processingunit 126 is for processing the second image signal S124 and outputting asecond command signal S126 accordingly. Similarly, in response to adifferent second motion trajectory 134 and depending on the operationmode where the input system 100 is operated (e.g., the gesture mode orthe cursor mode), the second command signal S126 for example can be agesture command signal S1262 or a cursor movement command signal (notshown), etc. While the input system 100 is operated under the gesturemode, the gesture command signal S1262 for example is an upward commandsignal, a downward command signal, a leftward command signal, arightward command signal, a clockwise command signal, a counterclockwisecommand signal, a push forward command signal, a pull backward commandsignal, or a waving-hand command signal. While the input system 100 isoperated under the cursor mode, the cursor movement command signalincludes a cursor motion signal or an object motion signal.

In the example shown in FIG. 1B, the second gesture detection unit 120is also under the gesture mode. In other words, when detecting a gestureof a clockwise movement (as shown by the second motion trajectory 134 inFIG. 1B), the second gesture detection unit 120 outputs a correspondingclockwise command signal as the gesture command signal S1262. Theclockwise command signal for example can be representing the command ofplus sign (“+”). As a consequence, a combination command combining thecommand of “Ctrl” and the command of “+” is inputted to the electronicdevice 101 whereby the screen 101 a of the electronic device 101 iszoomed in, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2B. On the other hand, when detecting agesture of a counterclockwise movement, the second gesture detectionunit 120 outputs a corresponding counterclockwise command signal as thegesture command signal S1262. The counterclockwise command signal forexample can be representing the command of minus sign (“−”). As aconsequence, a combination command combining the command of “Ctrl” andthe command of “−” is inputted to the electronic device 101 whereby thescreen 101 a of the electronic device 101 is zoomed out, as shown inFIGS. 2A-2B.

If the user intends to stop the zoom-in or zoom-out operation, (i.e., tostop outputting the command of “Ctrl”), the user can move the gestureaway from the first gesture detection unit 110, whereby the firstgesture detection unit 110 detects a gesture of a backward movement (asshown by the first motion trajectory 132 a in FIG. 1C) and outputs acorresponding pull backward command signal as the gesture command signalS1162 a. The pull backward command signal for example can berepresenting “not outputting the Ctrl command”.

In view of the above, the input system 100 of this embodiment can detectdifferent gestures generated by the user with the first gesturedetection unit 110 and the second gesture detection unit 120 under thegesture mode so as to generate a combination command (e.g., as describedpreviously, the combination of the command “Ctrl” and the command of“+”; or, the combination of the command “Ctrl” and the command of “−”),for controlling the operation of the electronic device 101 (e.g., thezoom-in/zoom-out action). Certainly, it should be understood that theabove-mentioned examples are for illustrative purpose, but not forlimiting the scope of the present invention. The user can combinemultiple gestures by any combinations. As another example, the user alsocan combine a gesture (e.g., an upward command signal, a downwardcommand signal, a leftward command signal, a rightward command signal, aclockwise command signal, a counterclockwise command signal, a pushforward command signal, a pull backward command signal, or a waving-handcommand signal) with one or more hardware inputs such as a keyboardinput (e.g., the “control” key, the “shift” key, the “Alt” key, the “+”key, the “−” key, the “upward arrow” key, the “downward arrow” key, the“leftward arrow” key, or the “rightward arrow” key, etc.) so as togenerate other combination commands (e.g., page up, page down,scroll-up, scroll-down, copy, paste, cut, open or close, etc.), forcontrolling the electronic device 101. Note that the input system cantransmit the first command signal and the second command signal to theelectronic device in serial or parallel manner.

In another embodiment, the input system 100 also can detect differentgestures and motion trajectories generated by the user with the firstgesture detection unit 110 and the second gesture detection unit 120under the cursor mode so as to generate a combination command, hencecontrolling an object motion of the electronic device 101, as shown inFIGS. 3A-3C. FIGS. 3A-3C are schematic diagrams showing actions by aninput system to input commands to an electronic device according to anembodiment of the present invention.

In the example shown in FIG. 3A, the first gesture detection unit 110detects the gesture under the gesture mode. That is, when detecting agesture of pushing forward (as shown by the first motion trajectory 132in FIG. 3A), the first gesture detection unit 110 outputs acorresponding push forward command signal as the gesture command signalS1162. The push forward command signal for example can be representingthe command corresponding to the left-click on a mouse. As a result, anobject on the screen 101 a of the electronic device 101 is selected, asshown in FIG. 4A.

Next, the input system 100 of this embodiment detects the motiontrajectory of another gesture (as shown by the motion trajectory 134shown in FIG. 3B) by the second gesture detection unit 120. Because thesecond gesture detection unit 120 detects the motion trajectory of thegesture under the cursor mode, it outputs a corresponding cursor motionsignal as the cursor movement command signal S1264. The cursor motionsignal for example can be representing a trajectory corresponding to themotion trajectory of the gesture. Consequently, the selected object onthe screen 101 a of the electronic device 101 is dragged or moved to adesired position, as shown in FIG. 4B.

If the user intends to stop moving the object (i.e., stop outputting theleft-click command), the user can move the gesture away from the firstgesture detection unit 110, whereby the first gesture detection unit 110detects a gesture of pulling backward (as shown by the first motiontrajectory 132 a in FIG. 3C) and outputs a corresponding pull backwardcommand signal as the gesture command signal S1162 a. The pull backwardcommand signal for example can be representing “not outputting theleft-click command”.

In view of the above, the input system 100 of this embodiment can detecta gesture of the user by the first gesture detection unit 110 under thegesture mode and detect the motion trajectory of another gesture of theuser by the second gesture detection unit 120 under the cursor mode togenerate a combination command, for controlling the object motionoperation of the electronic device 101. Certainly, it should beunderstood that the above-mentioned examples are for illustrativepurpose, but not for limiting the scope of the present invention. Theuser can combine multiple gestures by any combinations. As anotherexample, the user also can combine a gesture (e.g., an upward commandsignal, a downward command signal, a leftward command signal, arightward command signal, a clockwise command signal, a counterclockwisecommand signal, a push forward command signal, a pull backward commandsignal, or a waving-hand command signal) with one or more hardwareinputs such as a keyboard input (e.g., the “control” key, the “shift”key, the “Alt” key, the “+” key, the “−” key, the “upward arrow” key,the “downward arrow” key, the “leftward arrow” key, or the “rightwardarrow” key, etc.) so as to generate other combination commands (e.g.,page up, page down, scroll-up, scroll-down, copy, paste, cut, open orclose, etc.), for controlling the electronic device 101.

In another embodiment, the first gesture detection unit 110 and thesecond gesture detection unit 120 can concurrently detect differentgestures generated by the same user or different users under the cursormode, for example in a game, hence making the game more entertaining.For example, in a game which is originally for one player, if the firstgesture detection unit 110 and the second gesture detection unit 120 areconcurrently operated under the cursor mode, another player is allowedto join the game, thus making the game more amusing by multiplayers'interactions.

It is noteworthy that, in case the above-mentioned first light beam L1and the above-mentioned second light beam L2 are both invisible lightbeams having the same wavelength range, the first sensible range 110 aand the second sensible range 120 a preferably do not overlap with eachother to avoid mis-control or the mis-operation. Nevertheless, if thefirst light beam L1 and the second light beam L2 have differentwavelength ranges, the mis-control or the misoperation will be lesslikely, and in this case the first sensible range 110 a and the secondsensible range 120 a may overlap with each other.

FIG. 5 illustrates an input system according to yet another embodimentof the present invention. Please refer to both FIG. 1A and FIG. 5. Theinput system 200 of this embodiment is substantially the same as theabove-mentioned input system 100, but is different in that the inputsystem 200 of this embodiment includes only one single light emittingdevice 240, and the first gesture detection unit 210 and the secondgesture detection unit 220 do not include the above-mentioned firstlight emitting device 112 and second light emitting device 122,respectively. That is, both the first gesture detection unit 210 and thesecond gesture detection unit 220 detect the light beam 242 emitted fromthe same single light emitting device 240.

Because the first gesture detection unit 210 and the second gesturedetection unit 220 both detect the light beam 242 emitted from the samelight emitting device 240, the first sensible range 110 a and the secondsensible range 120 a preferably do not overlap with each other. Besidesthe difference that the first gesture detection unit 210 and the secondgesture detection unit 220 do not include the light emitting devices,the input system. 200 of this embodiment has substantially the sameadvantages and efficacies as the above-mentioned input system 100, whichare not redundantly repeated here.

FIG. 6 illustrates an input system according to still another embodimentof the present invention. Please refer to both FIG. 1A and FIG. 6. Theinput system 300 of this embodiment is substantially the same as theabove-mentioned input system 100, but is different in that the inputsystem 300 of this embodiment does not include any light emittingdevice. That is, the first gesture detection unit 310 and the secondgesture detection unit 320 of the input system 300 do not include theabove-mentioned first light emitting device 112 and second lightemitting device 122, respectively. In other words, both the firstgesture detection unit 210 and the second gesture detection unit 220detect visible light provided from the environment.

Besides the difference that the input system 300 of this embodimentdetects visible light whereas the above-mentioned input system 100detects the invisible light, the input system 300 of this embodiment hassubstantially the same advantages and efficacies as the above-mentionedinput system 100, which are not redundantly repeated here.

In light of the above, the input system of the present invention atleast has the following advantages: first, the input system can detectdifferent gestures with the first gesture detection unit and the secondgesture detection unit so as to generate a combination command.Secondly, both the first gesture detection unit and the second gesturedetection unit can operate in the gesture mode and the cursor motionmode, so there are more varieties of combination commands that may begenerated, and therefore the input system of the present invention issuperior to and can replace the conventional input system (e.g., themouse).

The present invention has been described in considerable detail withreference to certain preferred embodiments thereof. It should beunderstood that the description is for illustrative purpose, not forlimiting the scope of the present invention. An embodiment or a claim ofthe present invention does not need to achieve all the objectives oradvantages of the present invention. The title and abstract are providedfor assisting searches but not for limiting the scope of the presentinvention. In view of the foregoing, the spirit of the present inventionshould cover all such and other modifications and variations, whichshould be interpreted to fall within the scope of the following claimsand their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An input system, comprising: a first gesturedetection unit, wherein the first gesture detection unit includes: afirst light sensing device for receiving a first light beam andoutputting a first image signal accordingly; a first processing unit forprocessing the first image signal and outputting a first command signalaccordingly, wherein the first command signal is a command and is notthe first image signal; a second gesture detection unit, wherein thesecond gesture detection unit includes: a second light sensing devicefor receiving ire a second light beam and outputting a second imagesignal accordingly; and a second processing unit for processing thesecond image signal and outputting a second command signal accordingly,wherein the second command signal is a command and is not the secondimage signal; wherein the input system is for transmitting the firstcommand signal and the second command signal to an electronic device sothat the electronic device generates a corresponding action according tothe first command signal and the second command signal; wherein thefirst gesture detection unit and the second gesture detection unit aretwo respective gesture detection units; the first light sensing deviceand the second light sensing device are two respective light sensingdevices, the first light sensing device sensing the first light beamirrespective of the second light beam, and the second light sensingdevice sensing the second light beam irrespective of the first lightbeam; and the first processing unit and the second processing unit aretwo respective processing units, the first processing unit processingthe first image signal irrespective of the second processing unit andthe second image signal, and the second processing unit processing thesecond image signal irrespective of the first processing unit and thefirst image signal, whereby the first gesture detection unit outputs thefirst command signal independently, irrespective of the second gesturedetection unit and the second light sensing device, and the secondgesture detection unit outputs the second command signal independently,irrespective of the first gesture detection unit and the first lightsensing device, and the independently generated first command signal andthe independently generated second command signal are transmitted by theinput system to the electronic device as a combination command so thatthe corresponding action corresponds to the combination command.
 2. Theinput system of claim 1, wherein the first command signal includes agesture command signal or a cursor movement command signal.
 3. The inputsystem of claim 2, wherein the gesture command signal includes an upwardcommand signal, a downward command signal, a leftward command signal, arightward command signal, a clockwise command signal, a counterclockwisecommand signal, a push forward command signal, a pull backward commandsignal, or a waving-hand command signal.
 4. The input system of claim 2,wherein the cursor movement command signal includes a cursor motionsignal or an object motion signal.
 5. The input system of claim 1,wherein the second command signal includes a gesture command signal or acursor movement command signal.
 6. The input system of claim 5, whereinthe gesture command signal includes an upward command signal, a downwardcommand signal, a leftward command signal, a rightward command signal, aclockwise command signal, a counterclockwise command signal, a pushforward command signal, a pull backward command signal, or a waving-handcommand signal.
 7. The input system of claim 5, wherein the cursormovement command signal includes a cursor motion signal or an objectmotion signal.
 8. The input system of claim 1, wherein the actionincludes a copy, paste, zoom-in, zoom-out or object dragging action. 9.The input system of claim 1, wherein the first light beam and the secondlight beam are invisible light beams.
 10. The input system of claim 9,wherein the first light beam and the second light beam have a samewavelength range.
 11. The input system of claim 9, wherein the firstsensible range and the second sensible range do not overlap with eachother.
 12. The input system of claim 9, wherein the first light beam andthe second light beam have different wavelength ranges.
 13. The inputsystem of claim 12, wherein the first sensible range and the secondsensible range partially overlap with each other.
 14. The input systemof claim 1, further comprising one or more light emitting devices.